Every act has its results. The first and
glorious effect of baptism is the remission of sins. Those who are baptized
are, as it were, washed clean of their past mistakes. That may not mean that no
price is to be paid for evil acts that have been committed; but it does mean,
that the past will not stand as a hindrance to future progress. Coming out of
the waters of baptism, all will have an equal start on the eternal, progressive
journey that constitutes the basis of life in the Church of Christ. (“Baptism”
in John A. Widtsoe, Man and the Dragon
and Other Essays [Salt Lake City: The Bookcraft Company, 1945], 147)